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Cousins Big Winner At 2013 ECMA's

Sun, Mar 10, 2013.

Not only did she co-host the Gala Awards show at for the 25th Anniversary East Coast Music Awards, she was the big winner in the trophy race. Rose Cousins took home three awards, for her disc We Have Made A Spark: Solo Recording of the Year, Folk Recording of the Year, and Songwriter of the Year. The Stanfields also had a big night, taking home two awards, Entertainer of the Year, and Group Recording of the Year.

It wasn't a grand year for New Brunswick, with only three of the trophies heading back to this province. But big congratulations go to those winners: Stephanie Mainville won for Gospel Recording of the Year, Helen Pridmore from Mount Allison University in Sackville joined with Wesley Ferriera for the Classical Recording of the Year, and earlier in the week, Joel Miller picked up the award for Jazz Recording of the Year.

There were plenty of N.B. shout-outs in the Gala though, as Cousin's co-host, David Myles, made several references to his hometown of Fredericton. The team of Myles and Cousins were surprisingly funny as M.C.'s, with plenty of jokes handled well by the musicians. Myles told about the first time he appeared on the gala, in a songwriter's circle back in 2007, when the Daily News columnist said of him "I didn't know Bob Saget played folk music." Myles reminded everyone that "The Daily New no longer exists, but I'm still playing folk music."

The gala opened with a tribute to Stompin' Tom Connors, who died this past Wednesday, the opening day of East Coast Music Week. That became the dominate news of the week, and many of the shows during the event featured musicians speaking of their admiration of the East Coast legend. There were also several 25th Anniversary Awards presented through the night, to significant artists of the past twenty-five years: Lennie Gallant, The Rankin Family,Teresa Doyle, Rawlins Cross, Ashley MacIsaac, Great Big Sea
Natalie MacMaster, John Gracie, Rita MacNeil, Roch Voisine, The Barra MacNeils, Matt Minglewood, and Mary Jane Lamond.

MacMaster also performed a rousing fiddle medley, complete with her terrific stepdancing, earning a standing ovation from the crowd. There were plenty of great live numbers, including Ashley MacIsaac and Mary Jane Lamond performing Sleepy Maggie together for the first time in 16 years, a groundbreaking song that brought Celtic music into modern times. Radio Radio, Jenn Grant, Christina Martin, Jimmy Rankin with Slowcoaster's Stephen MacDougall, and Dave Gunning also provided highlights.

Touching tributes and honours were also paid to three deserving musicians. The Dr. Helen Creighton Lifetime Achievement Award went to the late jazz great Bucky Adams. A Directors' Special Achievement Award was given to the late Raylene Rankin, and another went to The Man of a Thousand Songs, Ron Hynes. Amelia Curran paid touching tribute to fellow Newfoundlander Ron Hynes. Hynes took the stage, and spoke about his recent battle with cancer. He thanked everyone for being in his corner and frankly said there's a small chance he'd leave this alter soon, but added he's not ready for that, and to send a prayer his way.

During the week, it was announced that the 26th East Coast Music Awards would happen in Charlottetown, P.E.I. in 2014. Here is the complete list of this year's winners:

Aboriginal Recording of the Year
We Are Medicine People - Lone Cloud

African-Canadian Recording of the Year
Ocean Blue - Cam Smith

Album of the Year
Coyote - Matt Mays
Producer: Matt Mays

Blues Recording of the Year
Triumph & Disaster - Charlie A'Court

Children's Recording of the Year
La vie pour moi - Donna & Andy

Classical Composition of the Year
Between the Shore and the Ships - Derek Charke

Classical Recording of the Year
Between the Shore and the Ships - Helen Pridmore and Wesley Ferriera

Country Recording of the Year
Where Does The Time Go - RyLee Madison

Electronic Recording of the Year
Red Potion - English Words

Chronicle Herald Fan's Choice Entertainer of the Year
The Stanfields

Chronicle Herald Fan's Choice Video of the Year
Saddle Up - George Canyon
Director: Warren Sonoda

Folk Recording of the Year:
We Have Made A Spark - Rose Cousins

Enregistrement francophone de l'année
Mōsaïk - Vishtèn

Group Recording of the Year
Death & Taxes - The Stanfields

Gospel Recording of the Year
Old Man Winter - Stephanie Mainville

Jazz Recording of the Year
Swim - Joel Miller

Pop Recording of the Year
The Beautiful Wild - Jenn Grant

Producer of the Year
Daniel Ledwell

R&B/Soul Recording of the Year
Triumph & Disaster - Charlie A'Court

Rap/Hip-Hop Recording of the Year
Havre de Grâce - Radio Radio

Rising Star Recording of the Year
In the Time of the Great Remembering - Ben Caplan

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About Bob Mersereau

Bob Mersereau has been covering music, and the East Coast Music Scene since 1985 for CBC. He's a veteran scene-maker at the ECMA's, knows where the best shows and right parties are happening, and more importantly, has survived to tell the tales. His weekly East Coast music column is heard on Shift on Radio 1 in New Brunswick each Wednesday at 4'45. He's also the author of two national best-selling books, The Top 100 Canadian Albums (2007) and The Top 100 Canadian Singles (2010).